Shakespeare's World and Work

Published by Charles Scribner's Sons

Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin 20 Best Bets for Student Researchers 2002

Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin Editor's Choice Reference Titles for 2001 & 2002

Firmly and forever rooted in the school curriculum, Shakespeare is arguably more popular than ever, as witnessed by the many recent movies based on his life and work. Specifically tailored for school and public libraries serving middle and high school students, this one-stop resource includes information on everyday life in Shakespeare's time; his life and career; analysis of his plays, poetry and dramatic techniques; and his enduring influence across four centuries. The articles, ranging from "Actors and Acting" to "Food and Banquets" to "Science and Invention," have been edited by John F. Andrews, a former director of the Folger Institute (a center for the advanced reserach and study of the humanities sponsored by the Folger and 38 universities) and one of the world's greatest Shakespeare promoters and enthusiasts.

Some features include:

250 A-to-Z articles include bibliographies and cross-references
Sidebars highlight significant details, including comments by stage and film actors and producers regarding specific passages; costumes, props, and other aspects of production
Illustrations and 2-color design
Eight page color inserts in each volume show the people and places of England, examples of different productions of the plays and photographs from movies, television, operas and ballets
Glossary terms are highlighted and defined on the page
Maps of England, London and Stratford show where Shakespeare lived and where the action of the plays occurred
Genealogical charts illustrate the relationships of characters in the plays

Review:

"Andrew's extensively researched, handsomely bound, and attractively illustrated set follows the well-received William Shakespeare: His World, His Work, His Influence (1985, Charles Scribner's Sons), which featured 60 articles by well-known interpreters. The present work us distinguished from the former by its alphabetical arrangement of topics, time lines that place signature dates and developments in historical context, attractive sidebars and illustrations, marginal notes and glossaries for major subjects, and cross-references. Its articles by distinguished critics and interpreters provide introductions to personalities, settings, literary terms, and events that serve as backdrop to the bard's works but do not attempt solutions to the 'problems' of those works...Added features include a brief preface/introduction, comprehensive indexes to each volume, Shakespearean chronology, chronology of the dramatist's works (for each volume), and a roster of contributors (in Volume 1). Recommended for academic and public libraries."
-- CHOICE (October 2001)

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